English

On skein algebras of planar surfaces

Geometric Topology 2026-04-23 v7 Quantum Algebra

Abstract

Let RR be a commutative ring with identity and a fixed invertible element q12q^{\frac{1}{2}}. Let Sn\mathcal{S}_n denote the Kauffman bracket skein algebra of the nn-holed disk Σ0,n+1\Sigma_{0,n+1} over RR. When q+q1q+q^{-1} is invertible, in 2000 Przytycki and Sikora found a set of n+(n2)+(n3)n+{n\choose 2}+{n\choose 3} generators for Sn\mathcal{S}_n; we show that the ideal of defining relations among these generators is generated by relations of degree 6\le6 supported by certain subsurfaces diffeomorphic to Σ0,k+1\Sigma_{0,k+1} with k6k\le 6. When q+q1q+q^{-1} is not invertible, a set of 2n12^n-1 generators for Sn\mathcal{S}_n was known to Bullock in 1999; we show that the ideal of defining relations is generated by relations of degree 2k+2\le 2k+2 supported by certain subsurfaces diffeomorphic to Σ0,k+1\Sigma_{0,k+1} with knk\le n. These results are substantial progresses towards answering Problem 1.92 (J) in the Kirby's list.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2206.07856,
  title  = {On skein algebras of planar surfaces},
  author = {Haimiao Chen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2206.07856},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

28 pages, 18 figures. I have thoroughly rewritten the paper, so this version is very readable